Ovechkin Milestone Thread - Countdown to 894 (Continued)

[winnipegger]

Good thing playoff goals don't count imagine that circus following him around during the playoffs. Caps have the best team they've had since their cup win they would probably benefit to just focus on making the best plays instead of feeding the great one. Yes, I know what I said f*** you Wayne.

 

[Bear of Bad News]

Good thing playoff goals don't count imagine that circus following him around during the playoffs. Caps have the best team they've had since their cup win they would probably benefit to just focus on making the best plays instead of feeding the great one. Yes, I know what I said f*** you Wayne.

The Gr8 One?

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Well, maybe they could break Ovi’s record if revolutionary stem cell treatments can be used in the future to revert them to a biological age of 20 when they’re actually 45.

You never know!

Of all the athletes I wish they could do this, Michael Jordan is by far the one I wish it could happen to.

 

[Caps8112]

Just looking at that list, I hope it happens on April 13th in Columbus instead, since it's the only one of the four in the screenshot that's not on national TV. I'm sure the league badly wants goal number 895 to be on national TV, so it would be quite a troll job if he did it against Columbus.

Knowing the NHL they'll make that whole game "bonus coverage" on NHL Network, and then parade around like it was on national TV, which is technically true, but a lot of people don't have access to NHL Network.

did you see where Leonsis got approval for joe b and locker to call every game the rest of the way even if during a national broadcast. in other words there will be a record breaking call from joe b for fans even if its not on the national broadcast. Not sure if I made sense.

 

[Summer Rose]

did you see where Leonsis got approval for joe b and locker to call every game the rest of the way even if during a national broadcast. in other words there will be a record breaking call from joe b for fans even if its not on the national broadcast. Not sure if I made sense.

I think I understand... do you mean that the games scheduled to be national games will also be available on the usual regional network for local fans?

 

[Caps8112]

I think I understand... do you mean that the games scheduled to be national games will also be available on the usual regional network for local fans?

no. my fault lol. I was saying that even during national broadcast games where potentially someone besides joe b and locker would be making the historic goal call, leonsis got permission from the league and I guess the tv contracts for Joe be and locker to privately (non broadcast) call the games so that the caps and fans would still be able to hear them call the goal even if it wasnt live. So for example when they play that call one billion times a season going forward during games at capitol one arena I imagine you will hear the Joe B call and not the national televised one if the goal happened during a nationally broadcast game.

 

[villacco]

Speaking of ChatGPT. I asked AI for statistics on the drop-off in goals per game over a career, and here's Gretzky, Jagr and Ovechkin (as of 2023 in its data). I asked it to use their first 80+ game season and their last 70+ game season to keep it realistic:

Gretzky: 0.625 goals per game -> 0.33 gpg
Ovechkin: 0.64 gpg -> 0.55 gpg (2022-23. This is 0.65 this season)
Jagr: 0.44 gpg -> 0.33 gpg

And using Top 5 (Hull, Dionne), the average drop-off has been about 0.2 gpg compared to the player's first full season.

So if we assume a 1400 game career, here's what the AI would project to some active players, with a linear downwards trend in gpg according to the above:

Draisaitl: 490 goals
MacKinnon: 490 goals
McDavid: 518 goals
Matthews: 686 goals

The projections for McDavid, Draisaitl and MacKinnon are way to low

The will only score like 100 goals after their 30th birthday? no way

 

[Randyne]

The projections for McDavid, Draisaitl and MacKinnon are way to low

The will only score like 100 goals after their 30th birthday? no way

Grok AI is too generous (800+ each):

---

Final Projections by Age 40​

• Connor McDavid: 815 goals
• Leon Draisaitl: 850 goals
• Nathan MacKinnon: 835 goals

---

Key Considerations​

• Scoring Environment: The NHL’s recent uptick in offense (3.0+ goals per game) favors higher totals than past eras. If this trend continues, all three could exceed 800 goals—a mark only Gretzky (894), Ovechkin (887), and Howe (801) have hit.
• Health: Injuries could lower these totals. McDavid’s speed-based game, Draisaitl’s physicality, and MacKinnon’s high-energy style carry risks.
• Teammates: McDavid and Draisaitl benefit from each other, while MacKinnon thrives with players like Rantanen and Makar, potentially boosting their numbers.
• Playoffs: These are regular-season projections only, though their postseason success (e.g., Draisaitl’s 0.628 goals-created-per-game) reflects their scoring ability.

These projections position all three as potential top-10 all-time goal-scorers, with Draisaitl slightly ahead due to his current pace and finishing touch, followed by MacKinnon and McDavid. Their final totals will hinge on longevity, health, and the NHL’s scoring trajectory over the next decade.

 

[Mick Riddleton]

Good thing playoff goals don't count imagine that circus following him around during the playoffs. Caps have the best team they've had since their cup win they would probably benefit to just focus on making the best plays instead of feeding the great one. Yes, I know what I said f*** you Wayne.

If playoff goals counted he would need to play another year or two. Gretz has 1016 total and Ovie has 959, so he is 58 away from taking the total NHL goal record.

 

[Mr Nogatco]

Predicted record breaking goal game
View attachment 996074

personally don't think he'll break it this year but the hype for that game will be incredible if he's a goal or two away and can break it with Crosby and Malkin in the building. We will see unprecedented defensive effort from Sid if that's the case

 

[Planetov]

888

 

[GKJ]

#888 is his 52nd career goal against the Flyers

 

[BallardEra]

If playoff goals counted he would need to play another year or two. Gretz has 1016 total and Ovie has 959, so he is 58 away from taking the total NHL goal record.

Good thing they don't count.

I've found Gretzky fanboys (and I don't mean you) moving the goal posts the closer he got to 894.

Guess it's their way of coping.

 

[Bone Density]

Insane.

 

[Hippasus]

888
8 8 8
!!!

 

[BallardEra]

Hopefully we see a hatty tonight.

 

[eojsmada]

6 weeks injured...35 goals....insanity

 

[Mr Nogatco]

 

[TJHKY]

 

[TJHKY]

 

[winnipegger]

6 weeks injured...35 goals....insanity

With a f***ing fractured leg at 39 years old.

 

[BallardEra]

With a f***ing fractured leg at 39 years old.

He would be right behind Draisaitl in goals if he didn't miss those games at the age of 39.

 

[andrjusha]

Triple Eight!
​

 

[M2Beezy]

Man I love this player

 

[CokenoPepsi]

Lost a bit in the chase is the Capitals are 1st in the East...imagine they go on a deep run, another cup run would be huge for his legacy